Take it Further in June

Recently a group for stash busting was started in the stitchin fingers community. This reminded me once again of just how lucky we are to have a ‘stash’. Most fiber folks have them. We draw on our stashes to make items or add to projects.

They are either purchased or scavenged materials that have accumulated over time and as such they often have a story to tell. Or it is possibly more correct to say that stashes are full of stories. The interesting thing for textile practitoners is that these materials can take on another story. They can be made into something new and take on other meanings in someones life.

Stashes also act as signifiers of wealth. Not only is the obvious wealth of what the stash actually costs to have and house but there is the psychological wealth of a stash because a stash is full of possibilities. While material is uncut it is rich with possible uses. Once you have committed to using it the material moves from being something that is full of potential to a project

So this month the idea to think about is stories that are and stories that are possible.

The colour scheme was taken from this photo of a stash of sinks I discovered at our local recycling depot. I thought it fitted the idea as I am sure if they could speak what stories they could tell! Even if the colour scheme produced by Colourlovers is a little on the pink side I am sure it will make for an interesting challenge. Remember that the colours can only ever be a suggestion as computer screens display colours differently. The aim is to be as close as possible to the colours on your screen. From ColourLovers you can download swatches to use is Photoshop, Illustrator, or in a CSS file.

As usual when you have worked the idea swing back to this page and leave a comment with blog or flickr address so that people can take a look at what you have been working on or done. There is a flickr group for the Take it Further Design Challenge and Debra Spincic has set up a another TIF blog. Please remember if you use Debra’s tif blog to swing by here too!

If you have not yet checked out the stitchin fingers community please do, as we have grown. Since start up two weeks ago just over 450 members are hanging out there all sorts of challenges, swaps and stitch alongs have started. There is a even a Take it Further group which has formed there too! So do take time to see it and join in on the fun

Yes, I finished it! My tif june. It was a story in a story to tell you the truth. It’s the story of our soccerplayers during the European Soccer Championship. Come an see my orange blocks!!! It was fun again!!!

This is my first attempt at the TIF challenge. I found it very meaningful as I worked on the stash/story angle rather than the color scheme. I love challenges like this, so fun to see how everyone interprets them. Judi Shttp://embellishingexperiments.wordpress.com/

I completed my quilt top using the color palate. I have decided to do some hand stitching and embellishing on it, so it is not quilted yet–it is about 32 x 38 inches, so I guess I need to work smaller if I want to get it done in a month! It is on my blog: http://www.enchanted-art.blogspot.com

I’ve uploaded my challenge piece to flickr. I started out the month with one idea, sketched it out and worked out fabric and colors. And then something else fell in my lap, like kismet and I had to follow that idea instead. It’s just a small piece but you know how it is when something’s bugging you, and you can’t concentrate on anything else until you start working on it and then once you start you have to finish it!

Sharon, have updated my blog with some thoughts. Alas, no completed project again, but I hope you’ll accept my Stash Stories in verbal form this month. Will try to post some photos of said stash as soon as I work out how to upload from my DD’s camera, my own has finally died.Hooroo,Christinehttp://missmuffettwo.blogspot.com/

I’ve posted a piece for June. It isn’t what I initially started, but there you go. Hopefully I’ll get some inspiration and finish the other one. Looking forward to the journal class. Maybe that will help me focus on the end result before I start.(http://tangomusings.blogspot.com)

My June TIF is complete – that was fun Sharon – I loved the theme and the colours. Now to get ready for all the things I have planned for July.The story behind the stitching is on my blog – http://maggies-textiles.optusnet.com.au.

Hi Sharon I have finally finished my June block–I tried a different arrangement this month because I knew I would be pushed for time but it proved to be more difficult.Not enough seams to embroider and too much space that I found hard to fill in a way that would all blend together.Ah well we live and learn don’t we.Doreenhttp://doreeng.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58325824@N00/2605402221/in/photostream/Here is my WIP for June, very rough and may start over if you visit my Flicker site you’ll see what I’m up to. It’s titled “Stories that are and stories that are possibilities-three sisters” I hope this link works if not I’ve posted the pictures in the Take It Further Flickr group pool.

I changed my mind about the initial ideas I had for June’s TIF , basing it instead on the discovery of an embroidery my Mother made over 30 years ago,of a place I visited recently, using some of the same design sources and threads as she did. I’ve written a couple of posts about it on my blog http://magsramsay.blogspot.com

My June TIF is up. Had a horrible time trying to find fabrics the right colors. 3 road trips to find–(wasn’t that a shame, had to go to three shops?) grin. anyway the colors are up. http://www.comequiltwithme.blogspot.com

I have just started my June challenge piece. Having a stash of Angelina fabrics already to hand, I have added a large piece to a block of silk oddments and have worked out an idea for leaves growing out of the stash. So far, so good. What next? My mind is humming with ideas at present. Grace

I have posted a photo of two bookmarks that I am using as my June TIF piece. Coincidentially the colours were almost those of this month, so inspite of the best intentions to use the concept – the colours won.http://paddysdaughter.blogspot.com

Whew! I’m done with this month’s challenge. It was a bit of a struggle to come up with a workable idea but the finished product came about without too much trouble. You can see it and read about it at http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com

I’m afraid I missed out on May’s challenge due to other commitments, but I hope to do it before long. I’m going to combine 2 challenges this time and I shall use the embellisher to use some of my fast growing stash of fabrics and fibres suitable for felting. I have added a few thoughts on stashes on Digital Gran just now.

I would like to join in the Take IT Further Challenges please. I would enjoy having a challenge to meet each month and extending my experimental work after doing so much straightforward embroidery. Grace

I have finally got my TIF for June on my blog, too much on at the moment to spend more time so I finished an unfinished piece that had the right colors and made it a bit bigger so it is now the same size as my other pages. The colours are more or less right and I added shells, buttons and beads as part of my stash of collectables.http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com

There have been some interesting pieces done already. I am feeling pleased that I have at last started my June TIF – I tried to add a comment at TIF page for May to say that I had put my second version of May TIF on my blog and onto Flickr.

Hi Sharon. My first thoughts on your June challenge are on my blog, hope to add more details in the next few days between other committments. Hoping to produce a finished textile piece for June, I seem to be manageing one every second month, VBG, at the moment.Hooroo,Christinehttp://missmuffettwo.blogspot.com/

I think the article would be greatly improved by more images to exemplify the text. And your work with lace, buttons and silk embroidery is an excellent example. I can not include your pictures without your permission. I also want to begin a collection of crazy quilt images in the related site Wikimedia. Currently, there are no images of crazy quilts on this site.

Hello Sharon and all other bloggers,I’m sorry, but I will be dropping out of the TIF challenge; I have to many activities and I am not getting on well enough with the weekly submissions… and I will be moving over June-July… too many things all at once. So I am making room for somebody with more time and inspiration.I have discovered many nice blogs thanks to this challenge and I hope some will keep on visiting mine.Bonne continuation

Well, I’ve come up with something, and started it with great pleasure, not finished yet, but I can show some of it on my blog together with my thought about the TIF June. Ever heard of the EUROPEAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP? See my blog!

I’ve decided to experiment with posting a ‘stash story’ of the progression of my June TIF on my bloghttp://justenoughtime.wordpress.com.I should have a little something there on this piece every day until it’s finished.I’ll be traveling, so the piece will tell a story as it travels with me.

This is a tough one Sharon! I just wrote my first post on this month’s concept. I also matched up the DMC floss colors to help others who are working the challenge. Thanks again Sharon for this challenge. It’s been interesting and more is becoming even more challenging!

Good grief – apologies for the multiple comments by me last night but I got a weird message and tried again (and again). I should have known to wait until morning after the first one but as nothing was showing up…

Love those sinks! I’ve blogged about my progress on May ( still needs some stitching) and my thoughts on June. I’m continuing what is turning into a theme on botanical labels – in this case a load of discarded metal tags and the stories they tell about the plants named. http:\\magsramsay.blogspot.com

I am amused at seeing the word “possibilities” used here in reference to one’s stash. This is exactly why I named my feature article in Needlepoint Now (as well as my blog) “POSSIBILITIES!” Also – Emily Dickinson said “Dwell in Possibility” Having the art crazy quilters to inspire me, the possibilities are, indeed, endless for my little creations in needlepoint – so I feel rather justified in having this enormous hoard of fibers and beads, etc. In the last few months, my goal has been to use these things and not run to the LNS for more – quite a challenge!! I love it.

I love the color palette and the theme! I instantly knew what I want to do. I plan to use both. I just have to figure out how. I am so enjoying this challenge; it has been such a good learning experience for me.

I am back! I am still working on the Feb. challenge, put it aside, emotionally reached a difficult stagnation but am seeing it again with new light. March is done but not backed, however there is some replacement needed due to a catastrophe, as my cat ate the end of the wishbone I’d attached (A ture new version of the dog ate my homework)wo my husband is cooking a chicken this weekend to remedy the situation, I have all the April pieces ready and theme done and know what I want to do. May I am skipping for the obvious reasons of the last three. And well, I am adoring the June challenge wishfully thinking I can do something wiht this color scheme and theme as well. I’m itching with possibilities!

What a surprising picture for the challenge. Although I’m behind (not unusual for me) I’ve been thinking about the challenges and watching everyone’s progress.

I’ve taken a few pictures lately that were just for the colors in the picture. Maybe they will turn into future CQ blocks. I probably wouldn’t have taken this picture myself – but it will be a challenge to use just these colors.

You have outdone yourself again!!! I do not get to post much, but my brain is usually thinking of something to do with this challenge or one of the others I am involved in. I’m hoping that inspiring thought will count—This months colors are —- a real challenge. Haven’t given the concept thought yet. Thanks for inspiring me to think outside the box.

Pfew, this is a difficult one, but very interesting though…stories that are and that are possible…a rather positive thought, when you think of it! Any story can be positive if you want it to…I’ll come up with something, bu sure of that! Thank you Sharon!!!

Sharon — I have not posted much to my blog recently but I have been working on the last two challenges. I am intrigued by the idea of stories, I spent far more time thinking about change and what I call myself than stitching. I am going to try and do some catching up. Jenny